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All library locations, including Port Plus, will be closed on Monday, May 19th for Victoria Day.
Unlock 1+million items with your library card including books, ebooks, movies, music, and more.
If you live, work, study, or own property in St. Catharines, you can get your free library card at any SCPL branch or online. Visit us with your identification showing your correct name & current address.
If you’re already a member of your local library in another Niagara municipality, you may be eligible for reciprocal borrowing membership at SCPL.
You can register for a library card in-person at any of our locations or online. If registering for your library card online, please allow 1-2 business days for your request to be processed.
All customers are asked to renew their library card each year by confirming their identification and address.
What types of identification is needed to get a library card?
For all memberships, we require identification showing your correct name and current address.
Once per year, we may ask you to show identification again as part of our annual identification check.
What is Reciprocal Borrowing and do I qualify?
As of September 3rd, 2024, SCPL invites Niagara libraries to join us in reciprocal borrowing. Reciprocal borrowing will allow customers of participating Niagara libraries to sign up for a St. Catharines Public Library card and access our physical collection (Library of Things and digital collections excluded), Gamerspace, and Port Plus, the Port Dalhousie branch’s extended access model.
At this time, the following Niagara libraries have signed on to participate in reciprocal borrowing at SCPL:
If you’re a customer of a participating Niagara library, bring your library card and identification to any SCPL location to sign up for your St. Catharines Public Library card.
I don’t live, work, or study in St. Catharines, can I still get a library card?
Yes! If you aren't eligible for a free library card and don't qualify for reciprocal borrowing, you can purchase a one-year membership with full borrowing privileges for a fee of $75, or a 6-month membership for $37.50.
As of February 21, 2023, SCPL is fine free for all. This means that all of our library memberships no longer accrue late fees. Fine freedom is an important step in our mission to make SCPL a library for all.
If your item is 21 days overdue, the item will be considered lost and we will send you a bill for its replacement fee.
Where can I find information about renewals, fines, and loan periods?
Items are automatically renewed for 7 days from the date the renewal is performed. Items cannot be renewed if the item is on hold for another customer. You can renew items:
Online in your library account
By calling our TalkingTech interactive voice messaging system at 905-687-4832
Or by speaking with a library staff member at 905-688-6103
For more information about fines and load periods, click here.
Educator memberships are available to educators currently working or living in St. Catharines. This includes Kindergarten to Grade 12 classroom teachers in public and private schools and licenced daycare employees. The membership allows educators to borrow library items for an extended period . Bring proof of educator employment when you pick up your library card.
Contact Us
St. Catharines Public Library
54 Church Street
St. Catharines, ON, L2R 7K2
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